Mounting system for label holders

ABSTRACT

System for arranging holders for information-carrying labels in optional positions along the front edge of a shelf or equivalent. The system comprises a supporting profiled strip ( 3 ) with a mounting part adapted so as to allow mounting of the profiled strip on the front edge ( 2 ) of a shelf ( 1 ) and also a part serving as an attachment for detachable fixing of label holders ( 7 ) to the supporting profiled strip. The system is characterized by the combination of the fact that the supporting profiled strip ( 3 ) extends along the entire length of a shelf ( 1 ) or a shelf section and has a height which essentially corresponds to the height of the front edge of the shelf, and that the label holders ( 7 ) consist of short label holder pockets of greater height than the supporting profiled strip ( 3 ). When mounted on the supporting profiled strip, the label holder pockets project down below the strip, and they are hinged so as to be capable of being pivoted up in front of the supporting profiled strip.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates to a system for arranging holders forinformation-carrying labels in optional positions along the front edgeof a shelf or equivalent, comprising a supporting profiled strip whichextends along the entire length of the shelf or a shelf section and hasa height which essentially corresponds to the height of the front edgeof the shelf, and which profiled strip has a mounting part adapted so asto allow mounting of the profiled strip on the front edge of a shelf anda part serving as an attachment for detachable fixing of label holdersto the supporting profiled strip.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] In shops, department stores and the like, where goods andproducts are kept and displayed on shelves, inter alia price and goodsinformation is usually indicated on labels which are arranged on theshelf front edge or equivalent.

[0003] These labels and the holders therefor are very striking and havea strong influence on the impression a customer forms of the shop andthe goods display on the shelves. The design of label holder systems istherefore of major importance.

[0004] The total space in a shop is determined by the size of thepremises and usually represents a limited resource which has to beutilized optimally. This means inter alia that efforts are constantlybeing made to reduce the thickness of shelves and to position these atan increasingly small mutual spacing in the vertical direction in orderto increase the useful goods display space. This makes even greaterdemands on the label holder system used. Narrow labels with a heightcorresponding to the thickness of the shelf often do not accommodate thenecessary amount of information, if this is to be easily readable.Labels and holders of greater height and which project down below theshelf level encroach on the shelf space below and render the putting-inand removal of goods difficult. Furthermore, long label holders, whichextend along a shelf and project down below the shelf level, exaggeratethe impression of compactness, which is not attractive and is thusundesirable.

DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART

[0005] A common type of label system for shop shelves comprises aprofiled strip made of plastic which is arranged on the front edge ofthe shelf, extends along the entire length of the shelf and is made witha front pocket for receiving in a protected manner the necessary numberof price tag labels. An example of such a strip is disclosed inWO99/52092. Such strips can also be made in two parts, the pocketconsisting of or being formed by a separate part, see for example U.S.Pat. No. 5,263,269.

[0006] It is a common feature of this type of label holder that both theholder strip itself and the label-receiving pocket extend along theentire length of the shelf and will, in the case of thin shelves,project down below the shelf. As mentioned above, this gives anunattractive, compact impression when the shelves are located at a smallspacing one above another and are filled with goods. Furthermore, suchlong, downwardly projecting label holders make putting goods onto andremoving goods from a shelf level below difficult.

[0007] WO92/20056 describes a label holder with a height which does notexceed the thickness of the shelf. In this connection, in order to makethe information readable, in particular on the highest and lowest shelflevels, the label holder is made with a magnifying lens. This rendersthe label holder system more complicated and more expensive.

[0008] It is also known to use short label holders which project downbelow the shelf level. These are usually attached directly to the frontedge of the shelf, which means that they are difficult to move intoanother position along the shelf. Alternatively, they require shelveswith a specially designed front which fits one type of label holder,which limits application and results in increased costs.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0009] One object of the present invention is to produce a label holdersystem for shop shelves and the like, which allows thin shelves to bearranged at a relatively small mutual spacing in the vertical directionwithout appreciably affecting the overall impression, with maintainedreadability of the label information and also without rendering puttinggoods onto and removing goods from a shelf level below appreciablydifficult.

[0010] Another object is to produce such a label holder system whichallows simple positioning of the individual labels along the length ofthe shelf.

[0011] A further object is to produce a label holder system which alsoallows mounting of other accessories on the shelf front edge, such asprojecting information or advertising panels.

[0012] A further object is to produce a label holder system which, inorder to make this system generally applicable, uses a supportingprofiled strip with a part which is intended as an attachment for labelholders and has the same profile irrespective of the remainder of theappearance of the supporting profile.

[0013] The above objects are achieved according to the present inventionby means of a label holder system of the type indicated in the firstparagraph, which is characterized in that the label holders compriseshort label holder pockets of greater height than the supportingprofiled strip, which pockets project down below the supporting profiledstrip when the label holders are mounted thereon, in that the labelholder pockets are hinged so that they can be pivoted up in front of thesupporting profiled strip, in that that part of the supporting profiledstrip serving as the attachment for the label holders has a forwardlyarched front, a rounded lower portion and an upper peak-like projection,and in that the label holders have a part which is intended forinteraction with the attachment part of the supporting profiled stripand has an upper portion adapted so as to be capable of extending inunder the peak-like projection of the attachment part of the supportingprofiled strip, and a rounded lower part adapted so as to be capable ofbeing snapped firmly over the rounded lower portion of the attachmentpart of the supporting profiled strip.

[0014] Other characteristics of a label holder system according to theinvention emerge from the following patent claims.

[0015] The invention will be described in greater detail below withreference to the embodiments shown by way of example in the accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shelf provided with a labelholder system according to the present invention.

[0017]FIG. 2 shows the profile of the supporting profiled strip includedin FIG. 1.

[0018]FIG. 3 shows the profile of the label holder included in FIG. 1.

[0019]FIG. 4 shows the front part of the label holder made as a pocketin the pivoted-up state.

[0020]FIG. 5 is a side view of the front edge of a shelf with a mountedlabel holder system according to the invention.

[0021]FIG. 6 corresponds to FIG. 5, the shelf having been provided witha divider.

[0022] FIGS. 7-9 show supporting profiled strips according to theinvention adapted to different shelf designs.

[0023]FIG. 10 shows an information panel intended for mounting on asupporting profiled strip according to the invention.

[0024]FIG. 11 shows the information panel according to FIG. 10 mountedon a supporting profiled strip which is arranged on a shelf.

[0025]FIG. 12 corresponds to FIG. 11, the shelf having been providedwith a divider.

[0026] In FIG. 1, reference number 1 designates a shelf, in this casemade of a bent plate and with a shelf front edge 2. Arranged on theshelf front edge is a supporting profiled strip 3 which extends over theentire length of the shelf and is suitably extruded in a PVC material.The profiled strip 3 has a height which essentially corresponds to theheight of the front part of the shelf 1, so that it does not projectdown appreciably below the shelf front edge 2. The profiled strip 3 canbe formed so that it constitutes a decorative contribution to the goodsdisplay and can, for example, be made in a colour which suits thesituation.

[0027] The supporting profiled strip 3 is made with an upwardlyprojecting, longitudinal rail 4, on which dividers 5 are mounted, whichextend transversely to the shelf and divide the latter into the desiredgoods compartments. Each divider 5 is made with a front mounting shoe 6which engages over the rail 4 and allows the divider to be secured onthe rail in the desired position. In front of the goods compartmentsformed by the dividers 5, label holders 7 are snapped firmly on thesupporting profiled strip 3. These holders are intended to be providedwith labels carrying prices and other information relating to the goodsin the respective goods compartment.

[0028] In order to make this information easily readable, a part of thelabel holders 7 has a greater height than the supporting profiled strip3, which means that these parts project down below the latter. As it isonly these relatively short parts of the label holders which projectdown below the shelf front edge 2, the overall impression of the goodsdisplay in the shop is not affected in the same way as if the entirelongitudinal profiled strip were to have the greater height. This would,in particular in the case of shelves which are located at a small mutualspacing in the vertical direction, create an altogether too compactimpression. In this connection, putting goods onto and removing goodsfrom shelf levels below would also be rendered difficult.

[0029] The front parts made as pockets 21 of the label holders 7 can bepivoted up in front of the profiled strip 3, as will be described below.The result of this is that they do not hinder the removal of goods fromshelf levels below. When new goods are put onto the shelf below, thepockets 21 can simply be pivoted up by hand.

[0030] Reference number 8 designates a panel projecting from the shelf1, which is intended, for example, to carry an advertising message. Thispanel is made with a mounting foot 9 which allows it to be mounted onthe same supporting profiled strip 3 as the label holders 7.

[0031] The embodiment of the supporting profiled strip 3 and the labelholders 7 will now be described in greater detail with reference toFIGS. 2-6.

[0032] In FIG. 2, reference number 20 designates the mounting part ofthe supporting profiled strip 3. In this example, this part is made inorder to fit on the plate shelf 1 shown in FIG. 1. The mounting part 20will vary depending on the type of shelf or the like on which thesupporting profiled strip 3 is to be mounted. The front part 10 of theprofiled strip 3 forms an attachment part for the label holders 7. Theattachment part 10 comprises an arched front surface 11, a lower roundedportion 12 and an upper peak-like projection 13 with a downwardlyprojecting, hook-shaped portion 14. This attachment part has the sameprofile irrespective of the design of the mounting part 20. This meansinter alia that it is possible to use a standardized label holder withan attachment part with the same profile irrespective of the type ofshelf on which it is to be mounted and irrespective of the size and thedesign of the remainder of the holder. Other accessories, such as forexample the advertising panel 8 in FIG. 1, can also be made with acorresponding mounting foot 9 which fits on the attachment part 10 ofthe profiled strip 3.

[0033] The designation 4 relates as previously to the rail intended forthe mounting of dividers 5. In applications in which dividers are not tobe used, this rail can be omitted. Reference number 15 designates afriction-increasing band which can consist of, for example, plasticizedPVC material or an elastomer and is suitably coextruded with theremainder of the supporting profile. When the profiled strip 3 isloaded, this friction band will be pressed against the upper surface ofthe shelf 1 and will then prevent sliding between the latter and themounting part 20 of the profiled strip.

[0034]FIG. 3 shows a label holder 7 which comprises a rear attachmentpart 16 with an arched shape, a lower rounded portion 17, an upwardlyprojecting portion 18 with a hook-shaped end 19 and an upwardlypivotable front part 21 made as a pocket. The entire holder 7 issuitably extruded in a PVC material. To mount the holder 7 on asupporting profiled strip 3 mounted on a shelf 1, the portion 18 isinserted under the projecting “peak” 13 of the profiled strip 3, so thatthe hook means 14 and 19 enter into engagement with one another. Thelower rounded portion 17 of the pocket 7 is then snapped firmly over thelower rounded portion 12 of the profiled strip 3, see FIG. 5. The holder7 will then be held securely on the supporting profiled strip 3. To movethe holder to another position along the profiled strip 3, all that isnecessary is to release the snap engagement between the parts 17 and 12and to reapply it in the new position.

[0035] In order that the downwardly projecting front pocket 21 of theholder 7 does not hinder the removal of goods from a shelf level below,the front pocket can be pivoted up, as is illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5.In this connection, the front pocket 21 is pivoted up around atransverse hinge axis 22 when an item comes into contact with the frontpart. The hinge axis can be produced simply in the form of a materialportion which is made slightly thinner in connection with extrusion ofthe holder. In the mounted state, the pocket 21 can also easily bepivoted up by hand, for example to put new goods onto a shelf levelbelow. In the embodiment shown, a price tag label or equivalent can beguided down into the lower folded-over portion 23 of the pocket 21. Thislabel will then be protected against external influences and soiling bythe continuous front surface of the pocket.

[0036]FIG. 6 corresponds to FIG. 5, a divider 5 being mounted by itsmounting shoe 6 on the rail 4 projecting upwardly from the supportingprofiled strip 3, as described above.

[0037]FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 show profiled strips 3 according to the presentinvention mounted on shelves 1 with shapes different from that shown inFIG. 1. In this connection, the mounting part of the different profiledstrips 3 has been adapted to the shape of the front edge of therespective shelf. In FIG. 7, the profiled strip 3 is snapped firmly overa front portion 2 of the shelf, while the strip in FIG. 8 is fixed tothe front edge 2 of the shelf by means of a double-sided adhesive tape24. The profiled strip 3 in FIG. 9 is adapted for a shelf with aspecially made front part 2.

[0038] Although the mounting part 20 of the profiled strip 3 differs inthe examples shown, the attachment part 10 of the strip is identical inall cases.

[0039] This means that label holders or other accessories with a designadapted to this profiled strip can be mounted on any shelf irrespectiveof the design of the front edge of the shelf.

[0040]FIG. 10 shows an information panel 8 according to FIG. 1 providedwith a mounting foot 9 with a profile corresponding to the attachmentpart 10 of the profiled strips 3 described previously. Compared with thelabel holders 7, the lower rounded portion 17 of the mounting foot 9 hasa slightly deeper shape so as to bring about a more secure grip aroundthe lower rounded portion 12 of the profiled strip 3, see FIG. 11. Formounting, the rounded portion 17 is then first arranged over the roundedportion 12 of the profiled strip, after which the upper edge portion 18of the mounting foot 9 is inserted under the peak-like projection 13 ofthe profiled strip 3. In this connection, the free end portion 18 can bemade without a hook portion.

[0041]FIG. 12 corresponds to FIG. 11, the shelf having been providedwith a divider 5 which is mounted by means of its mounting shoe 6 on therail 4 projecting upwardly from the supporting profiled strip 3.

[0042] An information panel 8 or other accessory with the standardizedmounting foot 9 can also therefore be mounted on all the profiled strips3 which can be adapted to different shelves.

[0043] The invention has been described above in connection with theembodiments shown by way of example in the drawings. However, these canbe varied in a number of respects within the scope of the patent claims.The attachment part of the profiled strip and the corresponding mountingpart of the label holders can therefore be given a different shape oncondition that they fit together and provide secure holding of theholder on the strip.

1. system for arranging holders for information-carrying labels inoptional positions along the front edge of a shelf or equivalent,comprising a supporting profiled strip (3) which extends along theentire length of the shelf (1) or a shelf section and has a height whichessentially corresponds to the height of the front edge of the shelf,and which profiled strip (3) has a mounting part (20) adapted so as toallow mounting of the profiled strip on the front edge (2) of a shelf(1) and a part (10) serving as an attachment for detachable fixing oflabel holders (7) to the supporting profiled strip, characterized inthat the label holders (7) comprise short label holder pockets (21) ofgreater height than the supporting profiled strip (3), which pocketsproject down below the supporting profiled strip when the label holdersare mounted thereon, in that the label holder pockets (21) are hinged sothat they can be pivoted up in front of the supporting profiled strip,in that that part of the supporting profiled strip (3) serving as theattachment (10) for the label holders (7) has a forwardly arched front(11), a rounded lower portion (12) and an upper peak-like projection(13), and in that the label holders (7) have a part which is intendedfor interaction with the attachment part (10) of the supporting profiledstrip (3) and has an upper portion (18) adapted so as to be capable ofextending in under the peak-like projection (13) of the attachment part(10) of the supporting profiled strip (3), and a rounded lower part (17)adapted so as to be capable of being snapped firmly over the roundedlower portion (12) of the attachment part of the supporting profiledstrip.
 2. System according to claim 1, characterized in that that partof the supporting profiled strip (3) serving as the attachment (10) forlabel holders (7) has the same profile irrespective of the profile ofthe mounting part.
 3. System according to claim 1 or 2, characterized inthat the peak-like projection (13) of the supporting profiled strip (3)has a front, downwardly projecting, hook-shaped portion (14).
 4. Systemaccording to claim 3, characterized in that said upper portion (18) ofthat part of the label holders (7) intended for interaction with theattachment part (10) of the supporting profiled strip (3) has anupwardly projecting, hook-shaped portion (19) which is adapted so as toenter into engagement with the downwardly projecting, hook-shapedportion (14) of said peak-like projection (13).
 5. System according toany one of claims 1-4, characterized in that each label holder pocket(21) can be pivoted up around a transverse hinge axis (19) which runsparallel to the free edge of said peak-like projection (13).
 6. Systemaccording to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that the labelholder pockets (21) have a full front surface, the upper portion ofwhich extends in under the peak-like projection (13) of the supportingprofiled strip (3), so that a label arranged inside the front surface isprotected against external influences and soiling.
 7. System accordingto any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that it comprises informationpanels (8) which can be mounted on the supporting profiled strip (3) andproject essentially at right angles from the supporting profiled strip,and in that these panels have a mounting foot (9) intended forinteraction with the attachment part (10) of the supporting profiledstrip.
 8. System according to claim 7, characterized in that saidmounting foot (9) has a rounded lower part (17) adapted so as to becapable of being arranged over the rounded lower portion (12) of theattachment part (10) of the supporting profiled strip and an upperportion (18) adapted so as to be capable of being inserted in under thepeak-like projection (13) of said attachment part.
 9. Label holder ofthe type which forms part of a label holder system according to any oneof claims 1-8.
 10. Supporting profiled strip of the type which formspart of a label holder system according to any one of claims 1-8.